Toy base-ball game



(No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet 1.- J. M. ROBERTS.

TOY BASE BALL GAME.

Patented Feb, 18 1896.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet J. M. ROBERTS.

TOY BASE BALL GAME.

NO. 554,733. v Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented Feb. 18, 1896;

J. M. ROBERTS. TOY BASE BALL GAME.

ANDREW EJSRAHAM. PNUTD-LT").WASNINFIDN.D,C.

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT rricn.

JOSEPH MORRIS ROBERTS, OF BETHLEHEM, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JESSE C. BELTON, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOY BASE-BALL GAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,733, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed August 1, 1895. Serial No. 557,845- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MORRIS Ron ERTS, of Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Toy Base-Ball- Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of the game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 4 is a vertical section from short-stop to the homeplate. Fig. 5 is an end View.

The object of the present improvements is to provide a toy game apparatus wherein the actual incidents of the game of base-ball shall be closely simulated, wherein a ball is projected across the field, wherein pieces representing base-runners actually pass from base to base, wherein two or three of the bases may be occupied by base-runners simultaneously, wherein double plays are provided for, and wherein all of the movements are automatically effected by'the successive movements of an actuating device.

The game is played by means of a gameboard A, a plurality of spheres B representing the batters or base-runners and a single sphere 0 representing the ball. The spheres B and O are preferably marbles.

The game-board A is made of any suitable material, such as papier-mach, sheet metal covered or not with cloth, wood, (to. The game-board A is constructed with four inclined grooves or ways a b c d, constituting the diamond, which terminates in and communicates with four pockets 6, f, g, and h, constituting the home-plate and the first, second, and third bases, respectively, located at the intersections of the ways. Each of the ways a b 0 cl inclines downwardly from its starting base to the next base.

The game-board is surrounded by an upwardlyprojecting marginal rim t' on both sides and its inner end, which prevents the ball and runners escaping from the board. At its outer end the game-board has a screen or back-stop D, provided with an overhanging hood E. The board also has beneath it a marginal rim Z, which conceals and protects the operating mechanism.

Between the back-stop D and the diamond is the outfield F, which slopes from the back-stop toward the diamond. This outfield is provided with a plurality of grooves 11, 12, 13, 14., 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24, starting near the back-stop, inclining toward the diamond, and terminating either at the bases f g h or in special pockets 70 Z. pocket Z occupies the position of the shortstop, and to it the groove leads. Grooves 14, 17, and lead to the third, second, and

first bases h, g, and f, respectively. The remaining grooves lead to the pockets k, which are designated on the board itself to correspond with incidents of the game of base-ball. Groove 11 leads to a pocket marked home run, groove 12 leads to a pocket marked foul out, groove 13 leads to a pocket marked left-field out, groove 16 leads to a pocket marked three strikes out, groove 18 leads to a pocket markec center field out, groove 19 leads to a pocket marked three bases, groove 21 leads to a pocket marked passed ball, groove 22 leads to a pocket marked right-field out, groove 23 leads to a pocket marked two bases, and groove 24 leads to a pocket marked four balls.

The upper ends of the grooves 15 20, leading to short-stop and first base, respectively, are double or wider than the other grooves, thus increasing the chances of the ball reaching these points to accord with the fact that these positions are the most active in the actual game. Guides 25 26 lead from the sides of the board to the third and first bases, respectively. Should the ball not stop in any one of the pockets or in any one of the grooves, which is in practice very infrequent, it is considered foul.

Immediately back of the home-plate e and above the same is aball-holder G, from which the ball 0 is ejected by a bat H. This bat H is a lever extending through a slot on in the board A behind the ball-holder G, and pivoted at n beneath the board. The upper end of the bat is moved toward the ball when in the holder by a spring 0. The bat is held in a retracted position away from the ball and against the tension of the spring 0 by a gravity-detent I, pivoted to the board A in the slot m, and which automatically engages by gravity a stud p on the bat when the latter is pulled back away from the ball. To release the bat and allow it to strike the ball under the influence of spring 0 a vertical The movable spring-upheld trip J is employed having a stud q, which when the trip-is depressed encounters the detent I and moves it out of engagement with the bat. The trip J is carried by a spring-wire r, secured at its inner end to a part of the gameboard and passing over a stud s, and its part,-which extends from stud s to the trip, constitutes a spring. 7

Moving vertically in suitable guides-such as sleeves t t secured to and beneath the game-board A and extending throughapertures in the game-board-are four elevators K, the upper ends of which constitute the bottoms of the pockets 6 f g h at the homeplate and the three bases. The tops of these elevatorsare normally below the lowest end of the adjacent ways a b c (I, so that a sphere or rolling base-runner 13 running down one of the ways to 7 one of the pockets will drop onto the top of one of the elevators and remain there. \Vhen, however, any one of the elevators is lifted, its upper end is raised clear above the higher end of theinterseeting ways, and the upper face of the elevator is so shaped or inclined as to direct a runner B, resting thereupon, onto the upper end of said way, so that the rolling runner immediately by gravity leaves the elevator and rolls down the'waytoward the next base. These four elevators K are raised and lowered simulta neously. They are connected by rigid radial rods L with a centralhulo M, which is guided vertically by an aperture to in the board A and a sleeve 1 on a spider N. Toraise and lower the several elevators K a longitudinally-sliding operator, consisting in the construction shown of a rod or bar 0, is employed, which is moved in one direction by a spring P and in the opposite direction by a manual pull-l nob to, outside of theinner end of the game-board. This operator 0 passes through a vertical slot at in the hub M, within which is pivoted a gravity-dog Q, which normally hangs vertically and can only swing in one direction, (toward the knob 10 or the inner end of the board,) being prevented from movement in the opposite direction by a fixed stop y. 011 its upper edge the operator O-is provided with a eanrR.

\Vhen the elevators K and M M occupy their normal lowermost position, the operator O occupies its position nearest the outer end of the board, and its cam R is nearer the spring P than the dog Q, which then hangs vertically. lVhen the operator 0 ispulled -inwardly against the tension of spring P by the knob to, the abrupt heel of cam R en counters the dog Q, which swings up out of theway, so that the position of the elevators is not affected. hen theoperator O is pulled fully back, a notch z therein is engaged by thespring-wire 1', which constitutes a detent therefor, and the operator O 's thereby held in its retracted position. When thus pulled fully back, the cam R is pulled back beyond the dog Q, which then swings down and hangs vertically in front of the cam. 'When, how'- ever, the trip J is depressed, the wire 7' is disengaged from the notch z and the operator 0 is moved outwardly by the spring P. During this movement of the operator the inclined face of the cam R encounters the verticallyhanging dog Q, and since the dog cannot now swing, being prevented by the stop 1 it rides upwardlyon the cam R, thus lifting the elevators K, so as to eject the base-runners which may be upon their upper ends. The cam R,

however, holdsthe elevators K raised only momentarily and just long enough to dislodge the base-runner which may be thereon, since the cam R passes immediately from beneath the dog Q, so that the dog and withit the hub M and elevators K K drop back to their normalpositions by gravity, so that the upper faces of the elevators are depressed below the lower ends of the ways a b 0 (Z in ample time to receive any base-runners rolling'down along the same.

Centrally pivoted beneath the boardA are two nearly-balanced levers S T, which are connected together at their one end. At their connected ends they carrya tappet U, which moves vertically in a suitable guide-sleeve and in an aperture in the board A. This tappet constitutes a movable bottom for the short-stop pocket I. At its outer end lever S carries a stop V, which projects upwardly through an aperture in the board A and across the way a,'which leads from the homeplate to first base, said stop V being located quite close to first base. Likewise at its outer end lever T carries a stop WV, which projects upwardly through an aperture in the board A and across the way d, which leads from third base to the ho1ne-plate, being located quite close to the home-plate. Stop X limits the movement of the levers S T. This mechanism is the double-play mechanism. Normally the outer ends of the leversST are the heavier, so that normally the upper ends of the stops V WV are below the bottoms of the ways at (Z and the tappet U is uplifted. When, however, the ball C rolls into the shortstop pocket I, it falls upon and encounters the tappet U, and its weight overbalances the connected ends of the leversST, thereby depressing them and elevating the stops V \V, so that their upper ends project across the ways a 1d, thereby preventing any baserunners B rolling down-said ways from reaching the bases, which they would otherwise roll into.

A groove 27 is provided on the upper face of the board A on each side of the home-plate for a players bench,in which the runners are placed. A second groove 28=is provided on each side of the home-platefor the runners who are put out, and a slate or other erasable tablet 29'is provided for keeping the score.

In order to play the game the ball '0 is placed in the ball-holder G. One of the rolling base-runners B isplaced in the home-plate pocket 6, resting upon the top of the elevator Ii therebeneath. The bat II is pulled back' and automatically latched, and the operator is pulled back and automatically latched. The trip J is then depressed, thus automatically releasing the bat H and the operator 0. The bat thereupon strikes the ball, which crosses the field, hits the back stop, and bounding back falls into one of the grooves 11 to 24, or against one of the guards 25 26 and thereupon rolls down into one of the pockets. At the same time the movement of the elevator-operator O lifts the several elevators K simultaneously, and consequently the base-runner B is lifted out of the homeplate pocket and rolls down the way a toward the first base f. The runner is safe or out, depending upon which pocket the ball rolls into. If the ball rolls into and stays in any one of the pockets connected with the grooves 12, 13, 16, 18, 01 22, the runner is out. If the ball reaches the first-base pocket ahead of the runner, the runner is out; but if the runner reaches first ahead of the ball he is safe. If the ball rolls into the second or third base pockets, a base-hit is scored, and the runner is safe. If the ball rolls into the shortstop pocket, the stop V is thereupon elevated into the path of the runner, and if in time to obstruct the runner he is out; otherwise not. If the ball rolls into the pockets marked 2 bases, 3 bases, or ho1ne-1-un,the runner is advanced accordingly. If the ball rolls into the pocket marked passed ball, the runner is returned to the home-plate.

Assuming that the runner is safe on first, then a second runner Bis placed on the homeplate and the operation is repeated. This time, however, the simultaneous elevation of all the elevators lifts the runner on first base and sets him rolling down way 6 toward secon d base. This runner B may be put out either by being struckby the ball while rolling down the way 1) (since he is then interferin g with a batted ball) or by the ball rolling into the second-base pocket 9 ahead of the runner. This runner may be advanced more than one base in case of a two or three base hit .or a home-run, and must be put back on first in case of three strikes. He is safe on second under all other circumstances. 'In this manner the game is continued, each side remaining at the bat until three men are put out.

As the apparatus is constructed, a double play can occur only when there is a runner on third. Under such condition, if the ball rolls into the short-stop pocket Z and encounters the tappet U therein in time, the stops V IV will be elevated so as to obstruct both runners and both will be put out.

In case a runner is on second when the ball is struck he at once starts for third, and in case the ball reaches third in advance of the runner the runner is out.

Any runner, if hit bythe ball between any of the bases, is out.

In case the ball rolls into one of the out or in fielders positions and then bounds out and stays out an error is scored and the runner is safe.

In the illustrated construction sufficient out pockets have been provided, so that a normalsized score results. It is rare that one side will score as many as fifteen or twenty runs in a nine-inning game.

It will be noted that all the men which are on the bases when the ball is struck immediately start running for the next base.

It is manifest that the principles of construction herein described can be extended. For example, the double play mechanism can be extended, so that the ball falling into other of the fieldingpositions can eifectrdouble plays. For example, the center-field pocket could' be so arranged as to put out a runner going home, or the left fielder might catch a runner from second to third, or the short-stop might effect the double play at first and second instead of at first and home. Triple plays can be provided for in the same way.

It is not necessary that the bat and elevators should be operated by separate springs, since it is obvious that the bat might be carried directly by the bar 0. Separate springs are, however, to be preferred, since the spring P for the elevators is stronger than is desirable for the bat. With separate springs the bat can be set by the pulling out of the elevator-operator. \Veights may replace the Springs.

The features which are deemed of the great est importance are the automatically and simultaneously operated base elevators; the batting of the ball simultaneously with the elevation of the bases; the immediate depression of the elevators after their elevation, so that as soon as they have discharged their runners they are ready to receive runners coming toward them, and the double-play mechanism. Owing to these salientfeatures, which are believed to be entirely novel, the incidents of the genuine game are closely and accurately simulated.

The entire progress of the runners in the circuit around the diamond is wholly automatic, and it is not necessary to touch the men except to remove them when out and to put them back in case of three strikes. It is not necessary to touch the runners to advance them in case of long hits, since this may be effected by manipulating the elevator-operator without hitting the ball. In addition to the changes suggested it is obvious that other alterations in mechanical construction can be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A toy base-ball-game apparatus having in combination, four inclined ways, pockets at the intersection of said ways, each of said ways inclining from one pocket to the next in order, movable elevators constituting the bottoms of said pockets, means for simultaneously and momentarily lifting said elevators,

and provisions by virtue of which said elevators drop down immediately after being elevated, substantially as set forth.

2. A toy base-ball-game apparatus having in combination, four inclined ways constituting a diamond, the inclination of the ways being such as to cause the successive advance of rolling runners around the diamond, pockets at the intersection of said ways representing the home-plate and bases, each of said ways inclining from one of said pockets to the next in order, movable elevators constituting the bottoms of said pockets, the face of each of said elevators being inclined so as, when elevated, to direct a rolling runner thereon to the way leading down to the next succeeding pocket, and provisions by virtue of which said elevators are simultaneously and momentarily elevated and immediately thereafter drop down, substantially as set forth.

A toy base-ball-game apparatus having, in combination, four inclined ways, pockets at the intersection of said ways, movable elevators constituting the bottoms of said pockets, a movable bat, and means for simultaneously moving said bat and lifting said elevators, substantially as set forth.

4. A toy base-ball-game apparatus having, in combination, an inclined way, a pocket, a stop located normally away from said way and adapted to be moved across said way to obstruct the same, a movable tappet located in said pocket so as to be encountered and moved by a ballrolling thereagainst, an d means connecting said tappet and stop, whereby the movement of said tappet by the ball causes said stop to obstruct said way, substantially as set forth.

5. A toy base-ball-game apparatus having, in combination, a plurality of inclined ways, aipocket, and adouble-play mechanism, said mechanism comprising two stops located nor-.

mally away from two of said ways, but adapted to be moved across said ways to obstruct the same, a movable tappet located in said pocket so as to be encountered and moved by a ball rolling thereagainst, and means connecting said tappet and stops whereby the movement of said tappet by the ball causes said stops to obstruct said ways respectively, substantially as set forth.

(3. A toy base-ballgarne apparatus having, in combination, a plurality of inclined ways, a pocket, and a double-play mechanism, said mechanism comprising two levers a movable tappet constituting the bottomof said pocket and connected with said levers, and stops carried at the opposite ends of said levers and located with their upper ends beneath two of said ways, and adapted to be elevated to obstruct said ways when the ball rolls into said pocket upon said movable tappet, substantially as set forth.

7. A toy baseball-game apparatus having,

in combination, four elevators connected to a central hub, said hub having a pivoted gravity-dog capable of swinging in one direction only, and a reciprocating sliding operator having a cam passing clear beneath said dog, whereby after said cam lifts said dog to raise said elevators when moving in one direction said elevators immediately drop, and when said cam movesin the opposite direction the elevators are not affected, substantially as set forth.

8. A toy base-ball-ganie apparatus having, in combination, a plurality of elevators, an operator therefor, a spring formoving said operator to simultaneously lift said elevators, a movable bat, a separate spring for moving said bat to strike the ball, and a single trip for simultaneously releasing the bat and the elevator-operator, substantially as set forth.

9. A toy base-ball-game apparatus having, in combination, four inclined ways constituting a diamond, four pockets at the intersection of said ways constituting the home-plate and bases, an inclined outfield inclining toward said diamond, and grooves or ways in said outfield inclining andleading to the pockets representing first, second and third bases, substantially as set forth.

10. A toy base-ball-game apparatus having, in combination, four inclined ways constituting the diamond, pockets at the intersection of said ways constitutin g the home-plate and bases, elevators constituting the bottoms of said pockets, amovablebat, a ball-holder in front of said bat, means for simultaneously lifting all of the elevators and moving the bat to the ball, an outfield inclining toward the diamond, said outfield having a plurality of pockets and a plurality of grooves or ways leading to said pockets respectively, and to the pockets representing the first, second, and

third bases, and a back-stop at the upper end of the inclined outfield, substantially asset forth.

11. Atoybaseball-game apparatushaving, in combination, four vertically-moving elevators connected together, said elevators normally occupying their lowermost position and returning thereto by gravity when free to do so, a sliding operator having acam for simultaneously and momentarilylifting said elevators, the length of said cam being such that immediately after lifting said elevators it passes to such position that the elevators at once drop down again by gravity, an d a spring moving said operator in the direction in which said operator moves to elevate said elevators, substantially as set forth.

In wituesswhereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J OSEPII MORRIS ROBERTS.

\Vitnesses:

WM. T. PATTERSON, WILLIAM H. EVANS. 

